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"The FBI, they check my phones" - Dennis Rodman on why he's forced to use five flip phones
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- "The FBI, they check my phones" - Dennis Rodman on why he's forced to use five flip phones
A walking enigma, Dennis Rodman has many people wondering what he will do next.
On the court, he was an undersized forward who carved out a Hall of Fame career with energy, effort and grit — all of which he used to help his teams win however he could. Off the court, however, he often made headlines for his wild stunts and controversial tales surrounding his romantic relationships.
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Still, out of all the bizarre off-court stories associated with him, his relationship with North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un stands out the most.
What many political leaders would not dare to do — step on North Korean soil and engage with someone widely regarded as a dictator — Rodman did without hesitation and seemingly without fear. However, it came at a steep price: giving up the convenience of smartphones.
Yes, in this day and age, the legendary forward still uses old-school flip phones because of Kim Jong Un.
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The FBI thought Kim was calling Rodman
During an interview with Houston Life in 2019, Rodman shocked the hosts by revealing he was carrying two flip phones in his pocket. He then added that he actually has five. At first glance, this seemed to reflect his current financial situation.
The two-time All-Star earned around $27 million during his 14-year NBA career. After retirement, he lost a massive fortune due to lawsuits, scams, an extravagant lifestyle and lavish spending. However, the reason goes beyond money.
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In 2013, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year traveled to North Korea to meet the dictator. He ended up visiting the isolated nation five times in the early 2010s. He got to party, drink vodka and talk with Kim in the spirit of "basketball diplomacy." In turn, he earned his trust.
"For some reason, he trusts me… When I went over there, the first thing he said to me was, 'Mr. Rodman, we just want to know, can we trust you?'" Rodman said on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. "I said, 'Absolutely.' And that's how our conversation started."
Apparently, the friendship he and Kim Jong Un built was so close that the FBI was tracking his calls. Ultimately, this forced the five-time champion to resort to flip phones for his privacy.
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"The reason why I got these flip phones is because the FBI, they check my phones," he said . "Because they think that Kim Jong Un is calling me every day."
Deep ties to the dictator
Since 2011, Kim Jong Un has been in power. During his reign, he has been criticized for accelerating the development of nuclear weapons, North Korea's severe economic hardship and intense international isolation.
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That's why the Chicago Bulls legend turned heads when he not only visited the leader and saw the country for himself, but also built deep ties to him .
However, based on his experience, the headlines do not reflect the truth about Kim Jong Un and his leadership.
"They keep saying it, that he's stolen many people, he's doing this, he's doing that, which I didn't see, but it's probably happening. But a lot of countries are like that," Rodman said . "I think it's misconstrued, the fact that they say he is this tyrant. You know, but like I said, I don't have eyes in the back of my head 24/7. But what I saw: he was very gentle, very cool, very understanding."
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It is this type of defense that has made the FBI critical and suspicious of Rodman's relationship with Kim Jong Un. As a result, he's now facing consequences — clinging to his five flip phones.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
